clarke



June 19, 1956 c. H. CLARKE VISE HAVING JAW SUPPORTS ROTATABLE AS A UNIT ABOUT PLURAL AXES Filed March 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

- BY 14/5 WTOR/VEVE 14 4920, H56, J35 TEQ 610%9/2/5 June 19, 1956 c. H. CLARKE 2,750,825

VISE HAVING JAW SUPPORTS ROTATABLE AS A UNIT ABOUT PLURAL AXES 95 F (i/QQLES (242m IN V EN TOR.

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HI/QQ/S, EEC, j o sr le & ARQ/s United States Patent VISE HAVING JAW SUPPORTS ROTATABLE AS A UNIT ABOUT PLURAL AXES Charles H. Clarke, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,185

Claims. (Cl. 81-41) The present invention relates to a new and improved vise construction.

Through the ages, a large number of vises have been known and have been used to varying extents by many individuals. Generally speaking, the most common of these vises comprise a base member having an upstanding jaw to which there is movably attached a second member carrying a second jaw which is adapted to be moved toward or away from the jaw mounted on the base member in order to secure an object so that it may be subjected to various operations, such as, for example, planing, boring, or the like. Conventional constructions of this broad category are frequently acceptable for very simple operations, but they are equally unacceptable for more complex purposes. Frequently, it is desired in using a vise to turn the work held within this vise to one or more angles while the work is still held in one position between the jaws of the vise so as to conveniently and easily perform a series of operations on this work, each operation being carried on at the angle at which it is most convenient.

It is a broad object of the instant invention to produce a new and improved vise construction which is highly satisfactory inasmuch as a piece of work clamped within the jaws of this construction may be readily positioned positively locked in virtually any desired angular location without removing this work from the jaws. It is a related object of the invention to create a vise construction in which the work within the vise may be rotated in a complete circle in a plane parallel to the earths surface, while simultaneously the work within this vise may be rotated within a complete circle in a plane verticalto the earths surface.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the class described in which the individual jaws are adjustable so as to accommodate various irregular sizes and shapes of work to be held within the vise, and in which these jaws may be replaced by other jaws of different configurations, as desired. Still further objects of the invention, as well as the advantages of it, will be more fully apparent in the balance of this specification, including the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 show-s a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of a. vise in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary and transverse sectional view taken at line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a transverse sectional view, partly broken away, and is taken at line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary plan view of the vise jaws, as seen from the viewing line 44 of Fig. 1, the view of the right-hand side being partly broken away, and the view of the left-hand side including a modified stationary aw. V

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a vise 10 having a base 11 which is adapted to be secured to a supporting surface 12 as by bolts 14 projecting through apertures 15 formed within small flanges 16 surrounding 2,750,825 Patented June 19, 1956 2 a cylindrical center section 17 of the base 11. Projecting within this cylindrical center section 17 in spaced relation to the support 12 is an internal flange 18 having a contiguous flat top surface 19.

This fiat surface 19 is adapted to carry a similar lower flat surface 21 of a body section from which there is depending a boss 22 which is adapted to fit closely'within the flange 18 so as to be capable of rotating therein. Secured to this boss 18 by means of bolts 23 is a flat plate 24 touching a lower surface 25' of the flange 18 so as to be capable of sliding on this surface. By virtue of the construction shown, the body section 20 can thus be rotated about the base 11 in a complete circle about an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface 12. In order to control this rotation, it is advisable to use a control means 25 consisting of a lever 26 slidably held within a bore 27 in a head 28 secured to a setscrew 29 threaded into an aperture 30 formed within the body section 20, this aperture permitting the setscrew 29 to be tightened against the surface 19 as desired.

The body section 20 is equipped with a hollow bore 31 surrounded at one end by an external circular flange 32 having a counterbore 33 receiving a ring 34 having a circular series of teeth 35 facing forwardly or outwardly. These teeth 35 are adapted to coact and lock with a corresponding circular series of teeth 36 facing rearwardly Or inwardly and formed on a ring element 37 suitably secured within a counterbore 38 of an inner-jaw support as shown. The teeth 35 and 36 may have side walls in radial planes intersecting the axis of the bore 31, the teeth 35 being sized to fit snugly between the teeth 36 and vice versa. tapered forwardly and the teeth '36 rearwardly to a slight degree so that they wedge snugly together when in the position shown in Fig. 1 to prevent any rotational play of the jaw support relative to the body section 20. As is best seen in Fig. l of the drawings, the end of the flange 32 is spaced from the bottom wall of the counterbore 38 to permit the tapered teeth to seat into engagement.

With the construction shown, the inner-jaw support 40 may be readily rotated by pulling it forwardly or outwardly thus disengaging the teeth 35 from the teeth 36 and then swinging the inner-jaw support about the body section 20. In order to aid in determining how much rotation is being accomplished and to indicate the angular position at any time, markings 41 may be placed upon a flat surface 42 of the inner-jaw support 40 around the body section 20, as shown in Fig. 3. An appropriate corresponding mark 43 is placed upon the body section 20 for use with the markings 41.

The inner-jaw support 4%) is equipped with a bore 4 in which is secured a hollow shaft or tube 45 which is longitudinally and rotatably movable in the hollow bore 31 and which projects through an end 46 of the body section 20. The projecting end is threaded to receive a cap 48, which cap may be further locked to the tube 45 in adjusted position by means of a set screw 48, if desired. As illustrated, this cap is adapted to slide longitudinally within an enlarged bore 49 formed in the body section 20 coaxial with the bore 31. The inner-jaw support 40 is resiliently urged rearwardly or toward a teethengaging position by a helical spring 50 one end of which engages the cap 48 and the other end of which bears against an internal shoulder 51 located within a second bore 51' which is also coaxial with the bore 31. Thus, with the construction shown, the spring 50, acting through the cap 48 connected to the tube 45 and the inner-jaw support 40, urges the teeth 36 into locking engagement with the teeth 35, serving to prevent rotation of the inner-jaw support 40 about the base 20, except when the Preferably, however, the teeth 35 arein'hebiaw support is pulled against this spring so that these teeth may be disengaged.

In order to prevent undesired disengagement of the teeth during use of the vise construction illustrated, a M pin 52 secured to a handle 53 slides in a threaded m 54 and a capes secured to these threads. The stop pin '51 carries all internal washer 56 between which and the cap there is a spring 57 serving to normally bias the stop pin 52 to its locking position, as indicated. The pin 52 is adapted to slide within a hole 59 formed in the tiite'aded boss 54 and, being normally biased into the bore 49-, serves to stop movement of the cap 48 internally within this bore 49. When the handle 53 is lifted, so as to Withdraw the stop pin 52, the cap 48 can be slid forwardiy within the bore 49 against the action of the spring 50.

The inner-jaw support 40 is secured by means of screws 60 projecting through the tube 45 to a nut block 61 containing internal threads 62 which are adapted to coact with threads 63 placed upon a shaft 64 carried by an onter jaw support 70. The shaft 64 is positioned within a second hollow shaft or tube 71 having a slot 72 slidably receiving the nut block 61 so that this tube 71 may he slid longitudinally within the tube 45 while being restrained from rotational movement. cured within an internal bore 73 in the outer-jaw support by means of one or more set screws 74 threaded into registeringapcrtures 75 of the support 70 and tube 71 and engaging a bearing member or split-ring lock 76 placed in an annular depression 78 formed on the shaft 64 within the confines of the bore 73. The shaft 64 extends through the bore 73 and through another coaxial bore 79 in the support 70, thence out into a central cavity 80 of a cap 81 bearing against a flat surface 82 formed on the outer=jaw support 70. The shaft 64 is provided within the cap 81 with a hole aligned with holes 83 within this cap, these holes 85 and 83 being adapted to carry a common rod or handle 84 serving as a means for turning the shaft 64 so as to cause the threads 63 to move with respect to the threads 62 on the nut block 61, moving the outer-jaw support 70 with respect to the inner-jaw support 40 and the body section 20.

Both the inner and outer-jaw supports 40 and 70, respectively, are provided with top jaw sections having shoulders 91 (Fig. 4) forming an angle of 45 with a line drawn parallel to the center of the shaft 64, one pair of shoulders on each of the top jaw sections 90 being parallel with a pair of shoulders on the opposite jaw sections. These top jaw sections 90 are both provided with internal cavities 92 having flat parallel sides 93 and back walls 94 in the shape of an arc of a circle. Supported within the cavities 92 are jaws 95 consisting of removable jaw faces 96 having knurled or smooth article-holding surfaces 97 secured to jaw-face supports 98 formed integrally with sectors 99 adapted to fit closely within the cavities 92 so as to be capable of rotation therein.

It is an important feature of this type of jaw construction that each sector 99 has a rear arcuate face corresponding in shape to the back wall 94 which it abuts. This eliminates any pivot member and the high shearing stress that would be built up thereon. It distributes the jaw load over the entire area of the back wall 94. Additionally, if the back wall 94 and the rear face of the sector are arcs of a circle drawn about a point A on the front of the corresponding jaw face 96, the jaws will effectively pivot about such a point, a very desirable feature. Finally, the jaws can be removed or replaced without tools and it becomes possible to change from adjustable jaws to nonadjustable jaws almost instantly. In this latter connection, a nonadjustable jaw is shown on the outer jawsupport 70 in Fig. 4. Here the spaces between the jaw-face supports 98 and the shoulders 91 are filled, both above and below the sector 99 either by separate inserts having curved shoulders conforming to The tube 71 is sethe shoulders 91 and abutting thereagainst or by enlarging the jaw-face supports 98 to provide walls 100 having curved shoulders 101. The latter construction is illustrated in Fig. 4.

From an examination of Fig. 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that the jaws 95 are normally disposed opposite one another within the inner and outer-jaw supports 40 and 70 so that the knurled faces 97 are substantially parallel to one another or in contact with one another. These jaws 95 will turn as indicated by the phantom view in Fig. 4, so as to accommodate various tapered or other shaped members which it is desired to clamp within the vise 10. Because of the nature of the sloping shoulders 91, the two jaws 95 may be readily posi tioned so as to be substantially at right angles to one another.

in utilizing the vise herein described and disclosed, the handle 84 is turned so as to open the jaws 95 and these jaws are adjusted so as to accommodate the precise dimension of the object it is desired to clamp Within the vise 10. Then the handle 84 is turned so as to clamp this object within these jaws in the conventional manner. If it is desired to revolvethe jaws 95 about a horizontal axis, the handle 53 is pulled upwards and the inner and outer-jaw supports 40 and 70 are pulled outwardly until the teeth 35 and 36 disengage. The assembled inner and outer-jaw supports 40 and 70 are then rotated to the angle desired and allowed to slide back under the action of the spring 50 until, at a given point, the teeth 35 and 36 come into engagement with one another, and until, at a later point, the pin 52 automatically slides down in front of the cap 48, preventing further accidental movement of the jaw supports 40 and 70. If it is desired to revolve the jaws 95 about vertical axis, the handle 26 is rotated, loosening the setscrew 29 and the body section 20, and the attached members are turned about the base 11 to any desired position, at which time the handle 26 is again turned so as to tighten the setscre'w 29.

Those skilled in the art will realize that a great many modifications may be made within the scope of this disclosure without departing from the essential teachings of the invention. Such modifications are to be considered as part of the inventive concept insofar as they are defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vise, the improvement which comprises: a body section; means defining a hollow bore within said body section communicating with opposite ends of said body section; a hollow shaft extending through said hollow bore and providing a shoulder means; a jaw support secured to one end of said hollow shaft externally of said body section; a plurality of teeth secured to one end of said body section around said hollow bore; a plurality of teeth secured to said jaw support around said hollow shaft adjacent said one end of said body section, said teeth being engageable with each other to prevent rotation of said jaw support with respect to said body section; a spring-actuated stop pin engaging said shoulder means to hold said teeth in engagement with each other but retractable to permit disengagement thereofya second shaft and means for moving same longitudinally within said hollow shaft; and a jaw support carried by said second shaft opposite said jaw support that is secured to said hollow shaft.

2. In a vise, the improvement which comprises: a body section; means defining a hollow bore within said body section and communicating with opposite ends thereof; a hollow shaft extending through said hollow bore; -a jaw support secured to one end of said hollow shaft externally of said body section; a plurality of teeth secured to one end of said body section around said hollow bore; a plurality of teeth secured to said jaw support around said hollow shaft adjacent to said one end of said body section, said teeth being engageable with one another so as to prevent rotat-ion of said jaw support with respect to said body section; and means including spring means connected to the other end of said hollow shaft for normally preventing disengagement of said teeth, said means being capable of being moved to permit disengagement of said teeth.

3. A device is defined in claim 2, wherein said means includes a cap secured to said other end of said hollow shaft and wherein said spring means includes a spring positioned between the other end of said body section and said cap, said spring being operative to force said cap in a direction away from said one end of said body section to cause said teeth to engage with one another.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein stop means are carried by said other end of said body section, said stop means being normally positioned so as to prevent movement of said cap toward said teeth on said body section, said stop means being capable of being disengaged so as to permit movement of said cap towards said teeth on said body section, whereby said teeth on said body section and said teeth on said jaw support can be disengaged from one another so that said jaw support can be rotated about the axis of said bore of said body section.

5. A new and improved vise construction, which comprises: a base; a body section held on said base; a hollow bore extending through said body section; a first hollow shaft extending through said hollow bore; an inner-jaw support secured to one end of said first shaft adjacent to said body section; a plurality of teeth on said inner-jaw support adjacent to said body section; a plurality of teeth on said body section adjacent to said teeth on said innerjaw support and coactable therewith to prevent movement of said inner-jaw support with respect to said body section; means including spring means normally holding said teeth on said inner-jaw support and said teeth on said body section in contact with one another; a second hollow shaft, having a side slot, positioned within said first hollow shaft and projecting from one end thereof past said inner-jaw support; an outer-jaw support secured to said second hollow shaft adjacent to said inner-jaw support; means for moving said inner-jaw and outerjaw supports with respect to one another; and movable jaws mounted opposite one another on said inner-jaw and outer-jaw supports.

6. A new and improved vise construction, which comprises: a base; a body section rotatably held on said base; means for controlling rotation of said body section about said base; means defining a hollow bore extending through said body section; a first hollow shaft positioned within said hollow bore and projecting from the ends thereof; an inner-jaw support secured to one end of said first hollow shaft adjacent to said body section: a plurality of teeth secured to said body section around said hollow bore adjacent to said inner-jaw support; a plurality of teeth positioned on said inner-jaw support around said first hollow shaft, said teeth being engageable with said teeth on said body section; a cap secured to the other end of said first hollow shaft; spring means positioned around said first hollow shaft engaging said cap and said body section so as to normally bias said hollow cap, said first hollow shaft and said inner-jaw support toward a position in which said teeth on said inner-jaw support are in looking engagement with said teeth on said body section, said spring means being capable of being compressed so as to permit disengagement of said teeth on said inner-jaw support and said teeth on said body section, permitting said inner-jaw support to be rotated about the axis of said bore of said body section; an outer-jaw support carried by said first hollow shaft so as to be capable of being adjusted with respect to said inner-jaw support; and jaws positioned opposite one another on said inner-jaw and said outer-jaw supports.

7. In a vise, the combination of: a body section having a bore; a hollow shaft longitudinally and rotatably movable in said bore; an inner-jaw support secured to one end of said hollow shaft, said inner-jaw support and said body section having opposed portions moving toward and away from each other upon longitudinal movement of said hollow shaft in said bore; a circular set of teeth projecting from each of said portions toward the other of said portions, the teeth of said sets intermeshing and disengaging when said hollow shaft is respectively in an inner and an outer position relative to said bore to respectively lock said hollow shaft against rotative movement in said bore and release same for such rotary motion; a second shaft slidable longitudinally within said hollow shaft; an outerjaw support secured to said second shaft; and means for moving said shafts relative to each other to move said jaw supports toward and away from each other.

8. A vise as defined in claim 7 including spring means acting between said body section and said hollow shaft to bias the latter towards said inner position.

9. A vise as defined in claim 8 including a member secured to the other end of said hollow shaft, said spring means including a spring compressed between such member and said body section.

10. A vise as defined in claim 9 including a retractable stop engaging said member to lock said hollow shaft in said inner position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,107 Holly May 14, 1889 513,261 Eisele Jan. 23, 1894 641,457 Light Jan. 16, 1900 709,399 Emmert Sept. 16, 1902 734,534 Frantz July 28, 1903 903,345 Walker Nov. 10, 1908 1,006,509 Starrett Oct. 24, 1911 1,094,359 Barke Apr. 21, 1914 1,890,114 Fulton Dec. 6, 1932 2,351,402 Clark June 13, 1944 

